Stop by Queen Anne Dispatch next Friday night for yummy cocktails, small bites and music from a live DJ while you shop! Did I mention that everything in the store is 20% off? Oh yes my friend, it’s Friends & Family time! Reps from Butter London and The Makeup Project will also be on hand to showcase product and answer questions. Now is the time to stock up on spring dresses, sandals and accessories!!!

Amanda Rosenthal, a self-described fashion junkie opened up Seattle boutique La Rousse back in 2005. (The name “La Rousse” is French for “female redhead” and coincidentally Amanda has red hair.) The business flourished and quickly became known as one of Seattle’s best boutiques and meanwhile Seattle fashionistas fell in love with Amanda’s fresh perspective on personal style and her commitment to showcasing up-and-coming designers. It wasn’t until last fall when the economy took a turn for the worst that La Rousse closed their brick and mortar store in favor of a hip online boutique. “There are so many reasons why I decided to move my boutique online,” says Amanda, “Business trends were showing that E-commerce was growing, my son Graydon was born and my lease was up.” It all seemed like a natural progression for La Rousse and for Amanda the flexible hours and option of spending more time at home with her son sealed the deal.Since settling in to it’s new home on the web, La Rousse has flourished and the move has also allowed the online boutique to reach clients all over the country. The well-edited mix of brands including Sophmore, Mary Meyer, Margarita Saplala, Serial Cultura, and Grey Ant are among the brands you’ll find online at La Rousse and although translations of spring 09 trends are mixed in Seattle, Amanda Rosenthal knows what she likes. “We love the oversized, downtown trend in jersey lines such as Mary Meyer and Sophomore,” says Amanda. Additional favorites include the tie-dye work of Margarita Saplala and items designed for layering to create a variety of looks.The current promotion that has been creating a lot of buzz is the $19 denim grab bag which lets customers pick from two categories: “Skinny and Straight Leg” or “Boot Cut & Flare”. From there, the La Rousse team selects a pair of premium denim from brands like Blank, Del Forte, Grey Ant, Karen Walker, SaddleLites, or Tag. It’s a gamble because you don’t know what you’re going to get, but for $19 how can you go wrong? The surprise is half the fun! Scoring a pair of premium denim for under twenty bucks is priceless!

Another perk of a Seattle based online boutique? Saving money on shipping! Seattle fashion junkies can pick up their purchases directly from the La Rousse showroom located on Capital Hill. Normal business hours are M-F from 9am-5pm by appointment only. Additional ways to save include signing up for the La Rousse mailing list to receive coupon codes for discounts or by visiting the La Rousse blog to hear about upcoming promotions.

You can also check out La Rousse at their quarterly Spa Noir events featuring 20% off La Rousse merchandise and discounts on Spa Noir retail products. You’ll get a sneak peak at vintage fashion not available online, plus apparel and accessories that are affordable and one-of-a-kind. The next La Rousse + Spa Noir event is June 7th from 11am-1pm.

Eric Akines, President and Founding member of Polite Society has confirmed that the rumors are true. Sadly, Polite Society will be closing their doors on May 13th for the last time. The good news? Customers have about two and a half weeks to save 40-80% off all merchandise in the store. The bad news? Seattle is losing a great boutique and we're sad to see it go!

You may have heard the buzz- but if not, stop what you’re doing and block out your calendar immediately for next Sunday, May 3rd when some of Seattle’s best boutiques will gather together for a huge warehouse sale! We’re talking about savings of 50-90% on apparel and accessories for men and women from stores like Blackbird,Clutch, Dolce Vita, The Finerie, Impulse, Marqsmen, Magnotti Antiques and Horseshoe. Event organizers have even added a “Buy Green” section to the sale which featuring vintage and recycled designer goods. Plus, there will be dressing rooms available and free parking!

Date: Sunday May 3rd, 2009Location: Bellevue’s Meydenbauer CenterHours: 10am to 5pmAdmission: $10 at the door (kids under 12 are free)Payments: Cash is preferred. Some vendors will take checks or credit cards.Dressing rooms: YesParking: On-site lot (free) or street parking

Street Style is one of my favorite displays of public art. It’s fun, stylish and it gives people an intimate view of a given city not from a catwalk but from the candid viewpoint of the sidewalk. Here’s a list of my favorite street style websites.

You’ll find lots of gems on this site including leotards, denim shorts and black tights and a healthy handful of drunken pub shots. There’s also a great assortment of legit street shots you won’t find anywhere else. This site just might become your guilty pleasure past time.

StilinBerlin explores the style of Berlin from a celebratory standpoint. The pictures on the site aim to capture the spirit of the city and document fashion trends. Each picture on the site also has a list of key items in the shot.

The best thing about this site is the mix of street style pictures and amazing fashion illustrations. I think this is one of my new favorite sites!6) Buenos Aires- www.onthecornerstreetstyle.blogspot.com

The great thing about this site is that it’s inclusive of everyone who calls Buenos Aires home, from the little old ladies at the market, to the artists in the street and the colorful passersby.

The self-described concept behind this site is “A man out and about in London and beyond… Eye candy for the style hungry”. The site has hundreds (maybe thousands) of pictures of global street style from cities including London, Madrid, LA, Jakarta, Helsinki, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Copenhagen and more. 9) Style Clicker- http://www.styleclicker.net/

Style Clicker is all about Munich street style from a male point of view. There are also images from London, Italy and other fashion-forward European cities. I love the picture captions and comments. 10) Toronto Street Fashion - www.torontostreetfashion.com

Canadian style comes full circle at Toronto Street Fashion.com. The photos are great and the site is easy to navigate. This site also has great pictures and coverage from Toronto Fashion Week.

Looking for Seattle Street Style? Check out the "Needle Plus Thread Blogspot" by Style Scout Kam Martin by clicking here. "I wanted to collect all the little bits from those around me and show that regardless of what you hear about Seattle... we do have style," says Kam.

If you love global street style you should also check out Lookbook.nu which is an amazing site that has various viewing options for optimal searching.

Seattle Designer Lizzie Parker is opening up a boutique in Issaquah's Gilman Village this weekend! Lizzie is known for beautifully draped knit garments in an array of organic fabrics and silhouettes. She's also going to carry an assortment of handbags from Clutch (approx. 12 styles which will rotate every 2 weeks). To catch up with Lizzie online, check out her blog. Lizzie's new "eco-atelier" is located at 317 NW Gilman Blvd. Suite 41. Issaquah, WA 98027.

Posh on Main is giving customers 25% off their entire purchase when they shop now through Saturday. To get the discount just enter in the code SPRING09 at checkout.

I'm loving the Lanvin Cork Platform sandal (pictured above) which has a four and half inch feel and a leather sole. Or, if you prefer something a little more low key, check out the Tory Burch rubber flip flops (pictured below) featuring the classic "Tory" gold logo hardware. At $45 a pair it's a great (and fashionable) option for lounging around on weekends!

If you can relate to the phrase “She who dies with the most shoes wins”, then you should definitely check out the $25 shoe sale going on now at Queen Anne Dispatch. They have sandals, stilettos, wedges, peep toes and more. I had to indulge this weekend by picking up a great pair of black patent leather Oh Deer stilettos originally $150 marked down to over 85% off. In addition to the shoe sale, Queen Anne Dispatch also has a great assortment of Spring 09 sandals in stock (including a select mix of adorable flip flops). For hours and location visit the Queen Anne Dispatch website at www.queenannedispatch.com.

Finding great deals on designer duds just got a lot easier because TheOutnet.com just went LIVE! As the sister-site of Net-A-Porter.com, TheOutnet.com features designer apparel, accessories and shoes at amazingly low prices. We’re talking ZacPosen dresses at 50% off, Marc Jacob tops at 70% off, and Christian Louboutin shoes at up to 60% off! (I think I’m in love!) There’s also a full selection of “IT” bags including a black leather Jimmy Choo marked at 40% off and a hot pink patent leather Chloe clutch at 50% off. Deals on accessories include BottegaVeneta sunglasses at 40% off, Michael Kors scarves for 50% off and Viktor & Rolf silk belts marked at 60% off.

In addition to the already insanely low prices Theoutnet.com also has limited-time “Pop Up” and “Going,Going,Gone” sales that give fashion fiends a way to snatch up designer labels at shockingly low prices. “Pop-Up” sales feature a group of items from a brand or theme and are only on sale for a limited amount of time (usually up to 72 hours). “Going, Going, Gone” sales allow you to choose the price you want to pay for a particular item. The sale begins at the featured item's original price and then drops continuously throughout the sale until the stock sells out or the sale ends (as indicated by the timer).

Another great feature of the site is the “Dress Me” feature which lets users select an occasion from a series of themes including “Vacation Planner”, “Chic Essentials”, “Working Wardrobe”, “Fashion Trends” or “Social Events” and then offers up instant outfit solutions. Users can then shop results by designer, category or color story.

With over 200+ designers and brands (and new merchandise added each week) the Outnet.com is a hip and exciting way for even the most frugal fashionista to enjoy fabulous designer fashion. Check out the site now by clicking here.

Attention Seattle Fashionistas: You may have seen the fabulous write up about Seattle Fashion Week (above) in last weekend's Seattle Times newspaper but if not, here's a newsflash: Seattle Fashion Week begins today!

Here are the Seattle Fashion Week Highlights:

Thursday April 16-Independent Designer Showcase sponsored by Vitamin Water 10 at Fremont Studios featuring New York Fashion Academy grad, JME of Salvation Ware (known for her Eco-friendly fashion), Alfred Lape of Lavsh, Naomi B, Emeka Arms of Live from the Coast, Heart on my Sleeve, and the winners of the Student Fashion Design Competition. Tickets are $20 at the door, cash only.Friday April 17-Urban Fashion Show at Fremont Studios featuring United Colors of Benneton, EQPT, Strut Boutique and Ducati. Tickets are $25 at the door, cash only.

Join Dress for Success for a glamorous evening of shopping and fundraising as they gather for the “Girls Gone Glam” event on Thursday, April 23rd at the Purely Paige, Zavida Gemstones, Abaloria Jewelry, America Jane Mercantile, Lemon Meringue, Sweet Petula and Blackbird Tees. “It’s the perfect girls night out,” says Monique Smith, Program Manager for Dress for Success Seattle, “Sipping, tasting and shopping!” Admission is $10 and includes a complimentary raffle ticket for guests to enter to win great prizes including airfare from American Airlines and vouchers for free hotel stays! All event proceeds benefit Dress for Success Seattle (including 10% of the proceeds from the sale of merchandise during the evening). Full event details are listed below. Sponsors for the evening include Alexis Hotel, Hotel Monaco, Hotel Vintage Park, Library Bistro & Bookstore.

A lot has changed in last year at Polite Society. For starters, in an effort to dedicate more shelf space to their favorite women’s collections like Ports 1961, Hoss Intropia, Catherine Malandrino and Brian Reyes they no longer carry menswear. They’ve also dedicated the entire back section of their store to Seattle couturier Madina Vadache who specializes in Ready-To-Wear and Bridal. The Spring ‘09 collection features beautiful cocktail dresses (like the one pictured above) adorned with organza petals and beautiful French lace. Madina is currently in the process of moving to New York and has decided to retire 15 of her designs which means that a handful of floor models and samples are 50% off! All of Madina’s designs are all handmade here in Seattle and each piece is one-of-a-kind. Polite Society even has several Madina Vadache bridal gowns in stock.

If you’re pinching pennies and looking for sale (who isn’t in this economy?) check out the sale rack at Polite Society which has a ton of merchandise from last season marked at 60-80% off.

The Act Two Guild is happy to report that the first annual Silhouettes of Style 2009 Fashion Show & Luncheon Event, held April 3rd to benefit Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), raised over $100,000! The fashion show, directed by TCM’s Terri Morgan, featured Spring 09 Collections from David Lawrence, Mercer, 7 For All Mankind, Martin + Osa, Eileen Fisher, Louie Permelia, and Voletta Couture. “On behalf of The Bellevue Collection, we were honored and thrilled to sponsor the fashion show for the Act Two Guild,” said Jennifer Leavitt, owner and operator of The Bellevue Collection. “The addition of PACE is such a gift to our community that we look for opportunities like this to demonstrate our support for their mission. It was a perfect match for our brand and gave us the opportunity to showcase some of our best fashion stores to a dynamic group of PACE supporters.” Fashion and Compassion go hand in hand!

Come be the first to view the Spring 2009 collection by 7 for All Mankind at Bellevue Square on Saturday April 18th from 2-5pm and catch at sneak peek at exclusive artwork created by NADA (The New Art Dealers Alliance). NADA is a non-profit collective of artists working with contemporary art. Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries will be served!

I love a good collaboration and I have to admit….there’s no better collab than a sample sale that involves not just one but several local boutiques who are offering 40-70% off original prices from brands like Rvca, Hellz Bellz, Converse, Soy, and more! The sale will include Gems, Upper Playground, Industry, Soy, and Sureel boutiques who have all banned together to put on this fabulous shopping event. It will go on all weekend long April 18th from 11am-6pm and April 19th from 12-5pm at 617 Western Ave. in Seattle. Music will be provided by DJ Sean Cee and Swerve Won.

If you prefer to shop in store, The Industry has their full spring assortment including merchandise from Gant, Howe, 1921 Denim, AT Collins, and Penguin. Stay tuned for more details on Happy Hour at The Industry featuring 20% off everything in the store! (Held on various Fridays from 3-7pm. Sign up for their mailing list to stay in the loop!).

Look Good, Feel Good and Do Good at this year’s Style 09 Fashion Show on Thursday, April 30th, featuring Carmilia's, Coastal, Canopy Blue, Lululemon, Nuvo Moda, The Finerie, Clutch, Oslo's, Asher Anson and Kick it Boots. "We are so happy to be part of the runway show for the first time this year,"says Kimberly Arrington, owner of Clutch, "In previous years we have been part of the audience." The 7th annual event to benefit Northwest Hope & Healing is designed to provide financial assistance to patients in need, for non-medical support services such as child care, meal service, transportation, and emergency rent. Tickets start at $40 for General Admission and range up to $1000 for VIP.

Martha Driver from Rock Star Jewelry is on top of Spring 09 accessory trends. Her statement necklaces made from agate, semi-precious stones and silver are exotic and affordable. Who can’t appreciate that in this economy? Prices range from $120-200 and that’s a steal considering brands like Barneys NY and Gucci are showing similar styles from $780-1200+. The entire Spring 2009 Rock Star Jewelry collection is available at Around The Block Gift Store in the Magnolia Village. These necklaces, bracelets and earrings are the perfect pieces to spice up jersey knit dresses for Spring and add charm to dark denim and a pair of leather boots.

Seattle Fashion Designers: Start prepping your portfolios and making your audition tapes because Project Runway is casting for Season 7 right now! Invite-only calls will be held in Atlanta, Chicago, LA, New York and Seattle! Applications are due April 24th so if you have what it takes- don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity! For full details and to download an application click here.

Online boutique La Rousse just got the rest of their Spring 09 shipments which means they have a ton of merchandise on sale this weekend for their Easter Sale Event. Enter EASTER25 at check out and save an additional 25% off your purchase. The discount also applies to sale merchandise which means you could save up-to 80%! The sale goes through Monday, April 13. Happy Shopping!

Celebrities including Scarlett Johansson, Courtney Cox and Rachel Bilson love Satya Jewelry! Come check it out for yourself April 10-12th at Ella Mon boutique in Ballard for a special trunk show. Designers Satya and Beth create jewelry with “truth, beauty and meaning” while incorporating spiritual symbols and healing stones into their works of art.Ella Mon will be serving complimentary cheese and wine Saturday evening in conjunction with the Ballard Art Walk and clients will enjoy 15% off all in-stock purchases during the 3-day event.

Sandal season is quickly approaching and having a good manicurist who can work wonders on your nails and help transition them from Winter into Spring is a Must! My manicurist of choice isn’t from one of the dime a dozen nail salons sprinkled throughout the city, it’s Karri Patton, who has a studio inside the Tim Walsh Salon in Madison Park. You may have seen her at a Crave Party or Girl Power Hour but the truth is, she’s been doing nails for over 10 years and her naturalist approach to nail care is her claim to fame. She is client-focused and big about providing a “total experience”. She even incorporates reflexology into her manicures and pedicures to reduce stress, balance body & mind through relaxation, as well as breaking up toxins to promote whole body health. Karri is Seattle’s only all-natural, sustainable nail care expert and she insists on using only products that are organic and paraben-free. Her brands of choice include Uspa and OPI. “OPI is 3 free,” says Karri, “Which means they are free of the 3 main toxins including toluene, formaldehyde and DBP (a chemical known to cause birth defects). She personalizes every session for people who want an Eco-friendly and Healthy manicure experience. Going Green is no trend for Karri. She’s been doing natural nails for years and has helped to pioneer what later became a trend. Karri’s style is natural, indulgent and relaxing. "I'm always seeking Zen,” says Karri, “I want everything to be very nurturing and calming."

In an effort to address the current economic recession Karri has lowered her price points to accommodate her clients.”Being Perfectly Polished is now perfectly priced!”, says Karri. The new price list includes manicures starting at $20 and pedicures starting at $40. Studio Karri L is located at 4105 East Madison St. Suite One. Visit Karri online at www.timwalshsalon.com.

These days you can’t talk about women’s fashion in Seattle without talking about Opal. They have 3 locations including Redmond Way, Mill Creek and Terry Ave. (next to Whole Foods on Denny) and they frequently outfit Seattle’s hottest radio duo, Brooke and Monti from the Ladies Room on Movin 92.5 FM. Right now they are offering up VIP memberships to their loyal clients who want to embrace the recessionista trend by taking advantage of 15% off regular priced merchandise every time they shop. The membership also includes exclusive invites to special VIP sales! Memberships are $25 and last for a full calendar year. They are also good at all 3 Opal locations.

Keep up with Opal by checking out their blog at www.opalboutique.blogspot.com.

It’s not every day that a luxury line of shoes can claim local roots but that’s exactly why there’s so much buzz about the new line of Carolina Pagano Shoes available at Posh on Main in Bellevue. Brazilian-born designer Carolina Sadowski (who calls Seattle home) named the line after her maternal grandmother and pulls inspiration from the natural beauty of her homeland. "I get most inspired by the vast variety of colors present in Brazil's rich landscape, everything from waterfalls to precious stones inspire me in my creations,” says Carolina. Materials used in the debut collection include suede, calf leather, silk, satin and linen. It’s Carolina’s passion for stylish footwear and focus on quality that brings the entire line together. This notion was confirmed by Angela from Posh who says,” She hand picks materials for every shoe she creates and works closely with the factories in Brazil to execute each style.” Paying special attention to design, fit and detail are what set Carolina Pagano footwear apart from the competition.

Silhouettes from the Spring line include the Bea (pictured at top), which is a satin ballerina flat featuring an oversized bow. This shoe has become one of the collection’s signature items and has been spotted on the feet of stylish women including model Carolina Bittencourt and fashion designer Ana Lerario (of Lerario Beatriz). Another Posh on Main Spring favorite is the Constanza. A patent leather hydrangea blue flat with tear-drop shaped straps and a small heel. “We enjoy being able to promote a local shoe designer with roots in our community!” said Angela Self, “Her designs will truly speak to our customers. They are just stunning!”

Stay tuned for the Fall 2009 collection which introduces 18 new styles including a zebra pump, a black bootie with a gold fish-scale heel, a deep-blue woven flat, a basic flat with a bow at the toe and a suede close-toe pump. All shoes are made in Brazil. For more information, visit www.carolinapagano.com.

I am obsessed with my new pair of earrings from Rock Star Jewelry (pictured above). These earrings go with everything from a little black dress to a pair of jeans and my brown leather boots. Made from18k vermeil, turquoise & pearl these chandelier earrings are constructed using 14k gold-filled wire. Rock Star Jewelry is available at Canopy Blue in Madison Park and Around the Block Gifts & Interiors in Magnolia. To view the full collection and to learn more about Seattle artist Martha Driver, visit www.rockstarjewelry.com.

Meet Sydney

Sydney Mintle is a fashion blogger based in Seattle. She began writing about the local shopping scene back in 2008 and has been sharing her love of indie designers and boutiques with readers all over the world ever since.